Stakes on each selection will range from a minimum of 1pt ( or 1/2 a point each way ) to a maximum of 3 pts - thus there will be no steep increase in an attempt to smash my way out of trouble during a quiet spell.

Saturday, 21 April 2012

Former Old Newton Cup winner Red Merlin appears to have transferred all of his ability over to his new career and despite racing in handicap company for the first time in this sphere has a first rate chance in a race where most of the contenders carry niggly doubts.

Alan King has a poor record at this track and Raya Star is very easy to back on the exchanges at the moment. However, what is clear is that a repeat of the level of form he showed in his three races prior to finishing down the field at Cheltenham would probably be good enough for him to win this.

Raya Star won +7.4pts

1.5pts win BE THERE IN FIVE 35/1 (Betfair) Scottish Grand National
1.5pts win MAC AEDA 39/1 (Betfair) Scottish Grand National

Enough long shots have taken this down the years and it could be worth taking a couple of big priced runners aboard.

Nicky Henderson's runners continue to run out of their skin and Be There In Five has bits of form to suggest he is in with a shout here. He dissapointed badly in this race last year after a good run at Cheltenham but showed signs that something could be around the corner when staying on to finish on 12 lengths behind Sunnyhillboy in the Kim Muir last time, and will surely run much better than last year.

Mac Aeda had a profile of a typical progressive Malcolm Jefferson staying chaser when winning at Wetherby in February. He then ran too bad to be true in the Grimthorpe last time and remains very much of interest and it would be no surprise if he ran a big race here.